Device for grading in setting forms



Oct; 17, 1961 J. JULlAN 3,00

DEVICE FOR GRADING IN SETTING FORMS Filed June 28, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 22 I 9 7 HO 33 2511...

I? K? ,28 M 0 I5 I 2 l6 f -ir, z I3 32 1 5 26 I9 mfgfi INVENTOR JAMES JULIAN BY 5 9% Wm ATTORNEY Oct. 17, 1961 JULIAN v3,004,355

DEVICE FOR GRADING IN SETTING FORMS Filed June 28, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.2.

INVENTOR JAMES JULIAN ATTORNEY Oct. 17, 1961 J. JULIAN DEVICE FOR GRADING IN SETTING FORMS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 28, 1956 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,004,355 DEVICE FOR GRADING IN SETTING FORMS James Julian, 405 S. Du Pont Road, Elsmere, Del. Filed June 28, 1956, Ser..No. 594,621

' Claims. (CL 37-145) This invention relates to preparation of roadbeds, or sections thereof, sidewalks, curbing, gutters and other ap purtenances and to grading machines used therefor. More particularly, it relates to the preparation of prescribed grades for the placing of metal or other forms preparatory to the'construction' of concrete 'slabs for roads, sidewalks, gutters or appurtenances and to a device and method for grading such areas. This invention relates to a form of grader for the preparation of the area which to receive formsfused in the preparation of concrete surfaces and structures. a

In the preparation of-hard-surfaced roads, sidewalks, gutters and the like, forms are installed at the edges thereof and into these forms for curbs and gutters of certain types or into the spacebetween forms for roads, side- -walks and certain curbs and gutters is poured concrete. The base that is prepared to receive these forms must be firm and unyielding to the pressure of the liquid concrete and to the various weights of equipment used in producing the fine grade and also the finished surface. Upon the removal of the forms after the hardening of the material used, there should remain a uniform, distinct edging which is desired, The placement of the forms involves considerable labor and time. In order to meet the exacting specifications of local, state and federal governmental bodies, the placement of the forms must be done accurately to specified grades and lines. Therefore, there is a definite need for a device and method that permits the preparation of the area precisely andrapidly and in such a manner that the forms once placed do not move throughout any of the subsequent operations prior to theirremoval.

I An object of this invention is the provision of a grader that accurately prepares the surface which is to receive the form. Another object of this invention is'the provision of a detachable grading device which can be mounted on readily available equipment such as a tractor or be constructed as a self-contained unit to be towed by any form of motive device'or be self-driven. A still further object of this invention is the provision of a device which is easy to manipulate and which controls grade and width .of the area to be graded within the desired limits. Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The objects of this invention are accomplished by the provision of a device comprising a cutting edge or scraper that is movable vertically to adjust the grade of strips, paths, lanes and similar areas and which is movable in the horizontal plane to adjust the width of the area. In co-operation with the cutteris a router which is similarly adjustable, "the" router being, for example, a multiple toothedsoarifier.

" The device thus comprises a cutting edge, means for raising it, or lowering it and means for varying the amount ofsurface being cut or scraped. Generally, a

scarifier is employed usually ahead of the cutter, but it maybe placed'elsewhere if desired. This router is de-.

signedfor raising and lowering; the width of the path [being scarified may be varied by the horizontal positioning of the device or by increasing its size. The controlled raising and lowering ofthe cutter 'and/ or router and the control, of their widths make fora precise grade.

In one form the device of. thisinvention comprises an upright which supports an arm pivotably mounted onthe ref: lQe Patented Oct. 17, 1961 end bearing a cutter beneath the arm. Above the mounting of the cutter to the arm or near it, is a lever or bar which is attached to a raising and lowering means. Similarly attached to the upright is a second arm which bears at its free end 'a multiple-toothed router. This router is mounted to a second raising and lowering means and is generally positioned just ahead of the cutter. Usually, a frame extends downward on the sides of the arms to pre vent any side movement of the arms. In the form of this invention that is used for mounting on a tractor there is a third erm which extends to or beyond the dead axle of the tractor and bears a mounting on it for connection to and formation of a support of the device by the dead axle. Provision is made for gauges and an operator's seat or platform so that a close watch over the work as it pro gresses can be made by the operator who changes the setting ofthe cutter or router as needed Ihe'various elements of the device may be supported on any mobile unit such as a tractor or it can be self-contained for towing or self-driving. i

In the preparation of concrete pavements of any given width, accurate control of such elements as thickness, crown, grade, joints and reinforcement is required. The attainment of the desired element depends to a considerable extent on the proper placement of forms. These forms may be of varied types, such as the side forms or road rails having comparatively wide bases and top rails that are used to support surfacing equipment. These forms usually have stake pockets and stakes and wedges for anchoring the form to the ground. Whether the forms be for slabs or side rails for curbs or gutters or curb forms, they must be placed on a firm, uniform base. By use of the device of this invention, the desired area that is to receive the form is readily prepared.

This invention will be further understood by referenc to the figures and descriptions below whichare given for illustrative purposes and are not limitative.

FIGURE 1 shows the device of this invention mounted on a tractor, the view being in perspective and from the the back of the device and being given mainly to show the operational relationships of the various elements and indicating the relationship of the gauges;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational, showing the mold board/ scraper plate, a router and a deflector in their related positions;

FIGURE 3, taken on line 33 of FIGURE 2, shows a lifting means for the cutter; and

FIGURE 4, taken on line 44 of FIGURE 2, shows a lifting mechanism for the scarifier and shows the mounting of the device of this invention to the dead axle of a tractor.

In FIGURE 1 a mold board 1 has attached to it the scraper or cutting edge 2. While the mold board and scraper plate may be unitary, they may be separate and mounted together by any convenient means such as by bolts 3. This permits ready replacing or sharpening of the" cutting edge 2. The cutting edge or scraper is generally made of metal, usually hardened, that is readily sharpened and retains a cutting edge over'long periods. of use. At the top of the mold board/cutting-edge unit is mounted a plate 4 which contains a plurality'of holes that can be aligned with holes in plate '5. While the shape of these plates is given as circular, any configuration perplate 5 selectively, the angle of thecutting-edge to the forward-going line may be varied .at will. Thus, the cutting edge may be working to form a grade which corresponds to the full width of the cutting edge or it may be angledto form a very narrow lane. As the cutting edge approaches the forward-going straight line, the

width of the channel beingcut decreases, number of 'angle'preva'ils for the instant job. AsshowninFIGUR'E l, the plate 4 bearing the cutting edge 2 is ,pivotably mounted to plate Sand is capable of being rotated manually, it being understood that'equivalents for 'efiecting the setting maybe used. Formo'st field work, the arrangement shown sufiices, for generally a given width is used uniformly on a particular operation. Further, the variations in setting provided for by plates 4' and 5 are easily made.

Ahead of the cutting-edge unit is an upright 7 which is anchored to the power unit 8, for example, a tractor, by such bracesas 9 and 10. The upright may be in.,the form of an I beam to'provide flanges 1-1. These flanges contain holes and permit the pivotable mounting of arms 12 and 13, the anchoring means 14 being cotter pins,

keys, rivets or similar fastenings, the particular means shown in FIGURE 2 being a stud bolt running through upright 11 and the instant arm 12 or 13 and being fitted for cotter key (115) locking. These arms are, in effect, cantilevers. At ,the free end of arm 12 is fixed plate 5 to which is bolted the mold board/cutting edge unit previously described. Near this end and the cutting-edge unit is an upright 15 pivotally connected to arm 12 to raise it or lower it as desired by the operator. The upright 15 is connected to arm 16 which in turn is connected to and driven by gears (not shown) in housing 17. The gears are activated by'turning the connecting wheel 18. Other means may be used for raising and lowering the cutter such as hydraulic pumps or lifts or electric powered means.

As shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 4, there is provided a router 19 comprising. a number of downwardly extending prongs 20. In operating position, these generally extend belowthe bottom edge of cutter 2'. The number and placement of prongs are such that the area being leveled is thoroughly loosenedand freed from stones or lumps of hardened earth. The routed area corresponds in width to slightly more than the width of the lane being cut by edge 2. The router can be of the rotary type, if desired. Therouter 19 is mounted to arm 13 and this arm is mounted throughbrackets 43 to'upright 21. The ends of brackets 43' may be welded or otherwise fastened to arm 13 or theymay be connected to each other by a bar running under arm 13. Upright 21 is attached to lever arm 22' which causes raising or lowering of the. router when it is raised or lowered by worm-gear and wheel 'part'segmentZ-SL Thegears are-activated by wheelv 24.

Hereagai'n; theralising and lowering may be efiected by other than-manual means. For example, hydraulic lifts or electric motors can be used advantageously for fast- -acting;-aceurate changes. Router 19 may also be pivotably mounted to arm 13 to be' swung in small horizontal arcs to, provide for varying the areas' being' ripped up for leveling u'singthe system shown in FIGURE 1 comprisingpl ate's '4 and 5 and bolts 6, or the prongs may be reduced o'r increasedin number since they are replaceably *mounted' ona frame 25 that holds them. This frame is mounted dn. arm,.1 3. In the modification shown inthe shown in a full or partial front View.

' either side of arms 12 and 13 are vertical bars 38 supportedbyf the mobile unit by .way of brace 33 and braces- 9am 10. These-bars'fit closely to the sides or 4 arms .12 and 13 and prevent undesired sidewise movement of these arms.

In FIGURE 1 there is shown a seat or platform 26. An operator positioned in this position has easy access to adjustingdevices 18 and The lifting mechanisms and the seat are mountedon' bar 27 attached'to the mobile unit 8. This bar and the elements thereon may be supported by braces running to the mobile unit.

The tractor or similar device is driven by an operator in therusual manner. A, gauge 28 is provided in front and is visible to the driver of the mobile unit and to the operator who activates adjusting devices 18 and 24. At theback near this operator is gauge 29 which is mounted to. arm 12. The gauges 28 and 29 are slidablymounted. As shown in FIGURE 1, gauge 29 is mounted in bracket .30 and can-be held in any desired place by set screws 31 and 32. Gauge 28 is similarly mounted either, to a part of theframework of thedevice of this invention or directly on the mobile unitto which the device is fastened. In the mounting shown in FIGURE 1, the gauge 28 is slidably mounted in a collar fixed to rod 130 which in turn is welded to the front of upright 11.. While both operators can watchzboth gaugesusually the driver uses the front while the operator of the cutter/router combination operateswith the aid of the backgauge 29. As shown in FIGURE 3, the operator can adjust the cutter 2 to the desired depth position and set it thereby means of lock device 33. This device may be of the spring/lever type shown which causes element 34 to bear against wheel 18 and prevent its turning or it may be any similar device. When the handle 133 is pushed toward wheel 18, lever 1'34 pivotscausing element 34 to move downward. When handle 133 is pulled back, element3'4 is made to bear against Wheel 18' and the spring maintains strong frictional contact between 18 and 34 so that the wheel 18 cannot turn. :The router may also be similarly equipped if desired. Thus, the operator may set the equipment to do a given job or he may keep the cutter and/or router variable as desired as, for example, in the initial stages of grading.

With the cutter working, it is desired to move all loose dirt well: away from the surfaces prepared or being preparedf To accomplish this the mold board/cutter unit may be equipped with deflector 35 comprised of a long, flat piece of metal which is bolted or otherwise mounted to the mold board/cutter unit. tomake an angle with the horizontal and to extend beyond. the inner edge of the unit. As shown, this deflector is angled upwardly; the mounting is generally pivotable by means of a sliding bolt arrangement and adjustable to variable active lengths through slots 36. It is usually bolted as shown in FIGURE 2 by bolts which are positioned in slots 36 in low, high or intermediate locations therein. Loose dirt is. forced, by the forward-going movements, outwardly and upwardly and away from the surface being prepared. and away from the graded area. While the amount of dirt is small and affords no great problem, the amount is substantial enough to prevent the forms from being properly placed, and this dirt must be cleanly removed.

vThe accuracy with which the device of this invention works is further enhanced by the center mounting of the unit on the dead axle 37 of the tractor. This is shown in FIGURE 4. It comprises a shaft or cup 40 that fits snugly around axle 37 and may be bolted thereon. The element 40 is attached to angle ir on or arm 41 which in turn is fixedly supported at one end by upright 7 and at its other end by inside upright 38. While the framework is mounted at difierent places on the mobile unit as previously explained, this main mounting at or near the center of gravity of the device permits either of the tracks 42 of the-tractor to rise or fall without substantially raising or lowering the cutting edge- 2. In other words, if one of the treads of the tractor goes over a stone in the roadbed,'the cutting edge 2 continues to'cut at substantially the same depth into the ground. This obviates time-consuming, precise preparation of the grade over which the tractor is to be run during the operation. The device of this invention can be mounted on a truck, truck frame, tractor or any such mobile unit. Further, the device can be readily removed from such units if required, permitting the unit, such as a tractor to be used for other purposes.

As pointed out above, various means may be used to move the device of this invention over the area to be prepared. It is, of course, recognized that equivalent movements may be substituted for those specifically described, but, generally the mountings shown in the figures constitute a readily manufactured grader that is quickly mounted on a mobile unit or mobilized. For these reasons and because of the precise grade it affords, this form of the invention is usually employed.

In present day highway engineering accuracy as well as speed is required. The device of this invention provides an accurate, well-compacted base that insures eflicient setting of forms. *It provides a method of accurately preparing the parallel forms to receive concrete. The base for these forms that is prepared by the device of this invention is uniform and compact so that the forms placed thereon do not move under the pressure of the fluid concrete or under the weight of equipment used thereon, such as templets used in grade checking, tampers or finishing machines. The slabs resulting have uniformly throughout their lengths the cross-sections desired. This invention affords a substantial reduction in time and labor expenses in the construction of concrete roads and the like and, most importantly, this invention insures a job done to specifications and acceptable by the letter of the contract.

While the invention has been disclosed herein in connection with certain embodiments and certain structural details, it is clear that changes, modifications or equivalents can be used by those skilled in the art; accordingly, such changes within the principles of this invention are intended to be included within the scope of the claims below.

I claim:

1. -A device for grading areas to receive forms for the making of concrete surfaces which device is adapted to be attached to the side of a mobile unit and which device comprises an upright; pivotably mounted on said upright an arm extending in the normal non-operative position at right angles away from said upright; pivotably mounted at the far end from said upright on said arm a cutter; above said cutter and mounted to said arm at said far end, a pivotally connected upright activated by a raising and lowering mechanism; beneath said arm, a second arm similarly pivotably mounted to and extending from said first mentioned upright, said second arm terminating in front of said cutter; mounted at said terminating end a router; above said router a second pivotally connected upright activated by a raising and lowering mechanism; and

means for mounting the said device at the side of a mobile unit.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 which includes a frame comprising a vertical bar on each side of said arms positioned near the working ends of said arms to prevent side movement of said arms.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1 which includes a platform for an operator for said device.

4. A device in accordance with claim 1 which is mounted on a mobile unit.

5. A device in accordance with claim 1 which includes gauges.

6. A device in accordance with claim 1 which is supported'in part on a dead axle of said mobile unit.

7. In combination, a device for grading areas that are to receive forms which comprises a frame comprising an upright at one end; an arm pivotably mounted at one of its ends substantially at right angles to said upright; a cutter mounted to and underneath the said arm at its other end; means for raising and lowering said cutter and said arm; beneath this arm and pivotably attached to said upright 21 second arm terminating in front of said cutter; a router mounted to and underneath the said second arm; means for raising and lowering said router independently of said cutter; above said arms and in the same plane therewith another arm; and attached to this arm a vertical bar on each side of said cutter arm and said router arm and positioned near the working ends of said arms to prevent side movement of said arms, said device being adapted to be mounted to a mobile unit.

8. A device in accordance with claim 7 which includes a support for center mounting the said device on a dead axle of a mobile unit.

9. A device in accordance with claim 7 which includes a dirt deflector positioned near and co-acting with said cutter.

10. A device in accordance with claim 7 which includes means for locking said raising and lowering means into the desired position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,178,880 Scott April 11, 1916 1,265,088 Jones et a1. May 7, 1918 1,577,677 Beatty Mar. 23, 1926 1,648,637 Carr Nov. 8, 1927 1,813,071 Moritz July 7, 1931 1,853,212 Kerber Apr. 17, 1932 1,884,113 Moritz Oct. 25, 1932 1,962,099 Adams June 5, 1934 2,072,111 Keeler Mar. 2, 1937 2,085,944 Best July 6, 1937 2,488,016 Lado Nov. 15, 1949 2,643,868 Covington June 30, 1953 

